Taxpayers could pick up tab on new sewer line

Washington County taxpayers might be asked to shoulder an additional $1.12 million for sewer service in two years to pay for a new sewer line.

Taxpayers, who are already pumping $3.5 million a year into the county's Water and Sewer Department to hold rates down, could be asked to pay for the extension of a sewer line on Hopewell Road to the Cedar Lawn development.

The plan to have taxpayers pick up the tab was recommended by the Water and Sewer Advisory Commission in a meeting Thursday with the Washington County Commissioners, who have yet to endorse the plan.

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The same sewer line could also serve the $40 million Centre at Hagerstown shopping center - expected to open in fall of 1999 - and eventually be extended north to Maugansville at a total cost of about $3 million.

Any plan to provide sewer to Cedar Lawn would require a public hearing and a renegotiation of sewer agreements with the City of Hagerstown, according to Public Works Director Gary Rohrer.

Commissioner James R. Wade said the cost of the line seemed small compared to the potential benefits by adding more customers for the underused Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Water and Sewer Department Director Greg Murray said the plant is only operating at about one third of its rated 2.5 million gallon per day capacity.

Commissioner Ronald L. Bowers, who has called repeatedly for the line to be built, said the money should eventually be paid back by users of the line, not taxpayers.